Welcome to RCF - WHF

Nightrider · Sep 25, 2004

Why people continue to use IE is beyond me...

Serious flaw in Internet Explorer not fixed yet

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Users of all current versions of Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) (MSFT)'s Internet Explorer browser might be vulnerable to having their computers hijacked because of a serious security hole in the software that had yet to be fixed Monday.

The flaw lets criminals commandeer victims' machines merely by tricking them into visiting Web sites tainted with malicious programming code. As many as 10,000 sites have been compromised since last week to exploit the browser flaw, according to antivirus software maker Trend Micro Inc.

The sites are mostly Chinese and have been serving up programs that steal passwords for computer games, which can be sold for money on the black market. However, the hole is such that it could be "adopted by more financially motivated criminals for more serious mayhem - that's a big fear right now," Paul Ferguson, a Trend Micro security researcher, said Monday.

"Zero-day" vulnerabilities like this are security holes that haven't been repaired by the software makers. They're a gold mine for criminals because users have few ways to fight off attacks.

The latest vulnerability is noteworthy because Internet Explorer is the default browser for most of the world's computers. Also, while Microsoft says it has detected attacks only against version 7 of Internet Explorer, which is the most widely used edition, the company warned that other versions are also potentially vulnerable.

Microsoft said it is investigating the flaw and is considering fixing it through an emergency software patch outside of its normal monthly updates, but declined further comment. The company is telling users to employ a series of complicated workarounds to minimize the threat.

Many security experts, meanwhile, are urging Internet Explorer users to use another browser until a patch is released.

munky2

Nightrider · Sep 25, 2004

Microsoft issuing emergency fix for browser flaw

REDMOND, Wash. (AP) - Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) (MSFT) is taking the unusual step of issuing an emergency fix for a security hole in its Internet Explorer software that has exposed millions of users to having their computers taken over by hackers.

The "zero-day" vulnerability, which came to light last week, allows criminals to take over victims' machines simply by steering them to infected Web sites; users don't have to download anything for their computers to get infected, which makes the flaw in Internet Explorer's programming code so dangerous. Internet Explorer is the world's most widely used Web browser.

Microsoft said it plans to ship a security update, rated "critical," for the browser on Wednesday. People with the Windows Update feature activated on their computers will get the patch automatically.

Thousands of Web sites already have been compromised by criminals looking to exploit the flaw. The bad guys have loaded malicious code onto those sites that automatically infect visitors' machines if they're using Internet Explorer and haven't employed a complicated series of workarounds that Microsoft has suggested.

Microsoft said it has seen attacks targeting the flaw only in Internet Explorer 7, the most widely used version, but has cautioned that all other current editions of the browser are vulnerable.

Microsoft rarely issues security fixes for its software outside of its regular monthly updates. The company last did it in October, and a year and half before that.

munky2

rb2d2 · Sep 25, 2004

I notice on help forums they keep telling people to switch to another browser. They seem to always recommend Firefox. Right now I'm stuck on Seamonkey. Sure wish I still had Netscape. The one that worked so well. They fixed it until they broke it and now it's worthless.

Crying or Very sad

Nightrider · Sep 25, 2004

Since Seamonkey is built on the Firefox code, it may have the same flaws as Firefox...

munky2

rb2d2 · Sep 25, 2004

Could be but I've not read that anywhere.

dontknow

rb2d2 · Sep 25, 2004

I take that back!

Flaws found in Firefox and SeaMonkey fix

I guess I better update Seamonkey. It keeps telling me there is an update but I keep refusing it because every time I update I lose my add ons. Like my theme and pretty icons. I hate the default icons, they are ugly! I think after I updated Seamonkey on my backup the pretty icons wouldn't install.

Crying or Very sad

Nightrider · Sep 25, 2004

That sounds like another flaw in Seamonkey...

munky2

rb2d2 · Sep 25, 2004

Aw heck! That's from 2007!

Rolling Eyes